Squeegee



Jan. 22, 1929.

T. J. SMULSKI SQUEEGEE Filed 001.. 9, 1924 Patented Jan.'22,

*UNITED STATES` 'rmionomi .1.

PATENT OFFICE.

sIULsxI, or LAKE zuaron, LLINo'Is, lAssIofNon. To mm1 ANnEasoN oo.,

or any, INDIANA, A cgnronArIoN or INDIANA SQUEEGEE.

' Application mea october a, 1924.- smal No. .742,575.

My invention belongs to that class of devices known as Squeegees and relates more particularly to animproved type of squeegee or'wiper adapted to beused in connection with' automatic devices such a's windshield wipers, which are operated by -means of a vacuum, pressure or electrically, the particular operating mechanismitself forming no part of the present invention as any automatic motor or manually actuated mechanism may be employed. The invention has -among its objects the productiomof a device of the kind described that. is simple, reliable, durable,` compact, efficient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. More v particularly the same has as an object the production of ai device ofthe kind Adescrlbed which will clean uniformly throughout its length and travel and will efficient under all weather conditions and be operative to,re move snow and thin coatings of ice or sleet 'from a windshield. Many other objects and n advantages of the construction herein shownA novel construction, arrangement and com- Jparent panel or window from which it is de'- bination of parts herein shown and described, and morelparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts: Y 4

, Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a portion of a windshield with an automatic wiper applied thereto; Fi 2 is a itsel y Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

V- Fig. 4 is a sectional view through a portion of the tubular body at the valve end; y

Fig. 5 isa sectional view similar to Fig. 3 with a slightlymodied construction; and

Fig. 6 is a sectionalyiew of another form.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment (of the invention is shown, 1 represents a windshield, for example, as used onan automobile or any transview in elevation of the wiper P sired to remove rain, snow or the like on the vthe device being "practically inoperative.

exterior so as to give a clear vision. The..

same may .represent an automobile wind- .sh1eld, a street car front window', a locomotive cab window, or the like. I have shown in the figures a source of power or motor 2, arranged-to actuate or swing the arm3, it lbeing understood, as before mentioned, that the motor 2 representsl a'vacuum motor, pressure v motor, electric motor, or any equivalent for any of them, 'or merely a manually o erated 'ment depending upon the type of actuating mechanism 2l that is employed, The member 3 carries the wiper or squeegee proper, which contacts with and moves over the pane of glass or thelike, wiping yoil' or squeegeeing the same.V

With the usual device of this kind, it has been customary to make the squee ee or wiper itself of more or lessjlight, exi le material such as rubber, and the arm 3 is often' more or less ofl a light wire which in itself-has some resiliency or spring action. If the arm is properly. adjusted, under ordinary conditions such as during rain or shower, the device will operate more orless'in a satisfactor manner. However, ifnot properly'adjuste or the motor mounting is not just so, or the windshield'frameis. warped or twisted, or for any other reason the contact offthe squeegee with the glass is not uniform throughout its I length during its travel so that one portion bears heavier orgcontacts-diierently thanr another portion of the squeegee, the wipin will not be elicient'and there will be a ten ency Ifor streaks, etc.`,impairing the vision almost Vas much Aand perhaps in some instances more than if no device for wiping the glass. were` employed. f In the case of snow, sleet or ice forming on the glass, the device will not operate satisfactorily at all times, and -it is necessary to wipe o the glass by hand. In the case of'a thin coating of ice, the same may form almost as fast as it is wiped off by hand,

This is due to a' large extent to the extreme lflexibility lof therubber wiper which flaps back and forth, rubbing lirst on one side andA or in varying degree throughout the length o l the rubber.

My present invention is designed to overcome all of these defects in that there is provided a wiper having a yielding and elastic.

back, the wiper face being pressed to the face of the glass. Referrin particularly to the embodiment shown in igs. 2, 3 and fl, 5 represents a hollow body or tube arranged to contain air or equivalent cushioning material -in the chamber 7 The wiping side of the tube is provided with one or more fins or blades 6 which constitute substantially a Aflange or lianges, the same having suiicient Width arid body so that it will collapse down on the glass but will be maintained in close i contact therewith adjacent the outer edge. The same is alsoshownof sufficient width that it will not to any great extent flap back The air cushion gives extreme and forth. fiexibility and yieldability to the same, however, to allow for irregularities so that the same is always maintained in operative equalized contact with the glass. It is generally preferred to provide this type of tube so that air 4may be admitted or exhausted therefrom, so as to vary the wiping pressure. I have shown a port 8 arranged at a convenient point, for example, at one end, 9 representing a valve which is retained against displacement by the prongs 10. The particular valve construction shown is provided with an outer cap 12 and gasket-13 so as to'tightly seal the end. Obviously, any type of valve, for example a tire or inner tube valve of wellknown construction niay be emplo' ed in lieu of the valve mechanism illustrate I have shown the tube mounted` in' a holder 15 provided with a Hange 16, pivotally connected at 17 to a bracket 18 suitably mounted on the arm 3, this construction allowing some plvotal adjustment during operation of the arm. The air pressure within the tube may be maintained as found desirable and varied for different-weather conditions if preferred. Obviously, the tubular body 5 providing resilienc and yieldability, and for the equalizing o the pressure and contact across the same from end to end, the arm?) may be made somewhat stiff so that the pressure on the glass may be made such as to give the most efficient operation of the device.

rangement in which- 19 represents the'tube,

'which, in this case, is formed or provided with a core 20 of yieldable material,such as sponge rubber or `.any equivalent for the purpose. The same is also shown provided with one or more anges or blades 21 and is mounted in a holder 22-pivotally secured at 24 to the bracket 23`mounted on the arm 25. The

construction shown in Fig. 6 is more or less similar, except but one blade y27 is shown, and L that'the tube is provided with a portion 28 arranged to dovetail in a back holder 29. Obviously, any equivalent construction may be employed for the. purpose.l

From the preceding it will beseen that the squeegee proper or wiping member is extremely yieldable and flexible and yetis maintained in firm contact with the glass throughout its length, and that the same may be maintained incontact with the glass with enough pressure so that except under exceptional circumstances, snow, sleet and ice ,will be re-v moved from the line of vision represented by the /space covered by the wiper in its movement. While, of course, there may be some l chance for flexing of the body or parts intermediate or lat the ends, the same does not flex to the extent that a thin rubberstrip would Hex; that is, fold down or collapse on the glass. As before mentioned, regardless of the irregularities in adjustments which render present devices inefficient, my ilnproved wiper compensates for such irregularities, and the pressureis equalizcd throughout its length so that a uniform wiping is accomplished. The device is applicable to new constructions or to practica ly any of the constructions now on the market, regardless of the kind of power used for operating the same.-

Having thusgdescribed my invention, it is r` llll) port for Ithe admission or discharge of air Y to or from said chamber, and a relatively narrow substantially stiff rib of suitable material arranged at one side of said body and having a free edge, said rib'onstructed to rest on a surface to-be wiped and being sufliciently sti to bear thereon with the free l edge without sidewise flexing. x i

2. In a windshield wiper ofthe kind described, a body of elastic material provided with an air chamber extend'in substantially In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a similar ar,-

from end to end thereof, said ody provided with a lvalved port at. one' end, whereby air pressure within the body may be regulated asrdesir'ed, a'plurality of substantially stil spaced fins on one side of the body extending lengthwise from end to end and constituting wipers, said lins being so arranged as to engage the surface to bey wiped at the edge of the fins.

3. In a device of the kind described ndin combination, a substantially cylindrical body of elastic material provided with an air chamber extending substantially from end to end 5 thereof, said body provided with a valved port at one end to permit the regulation of air presSure Within the body, a relatively stiff rib extending substantially from end to end on said body, and having a free edge with which to engage a surface to be wiped.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

THEoDoRE J. SMULSKI. 

